PMP – An Industry recognized certification developed and administered by PMI

The Project Management Professional credential, known as the PMP, is an industry-recognized certification developed and administered by the Project Management Institute (PMI). The PMP is globally recognized, and signals to prospective employers that you have the necessary experience, education, and skills to lead and direct projects. The PMP is also known for increasing an employee’s marketability, as according to the PMI, having the PMP credential has the potential to increase one’s salary up to 10% more than that of those without this all-important

credential.

The PMP is not for everyone, however, and in fact there are stringent requirements simply to

apply to take the test. Those planning to apply need to have a four-year degree as well as at least three years of project management experience, to include 4,500 hours leading and directing projects and 35 hours of project management education. One can also apply with a secondary diploma, but in that case 7,500 hours leading and directing projects are required.

The PMP Exam itself consists of 200 questions, and while only 175 of these are "live" questions, with the rest functioning as validation question, there’s no way of knowing which ones are which, and so each question must be answered as if it were a real question. The overall pass mark is 61%, though the number of questions taken from each domain varies as follows: Initiating (11%), Planning (23%), Executing (27%), Monitoring and Controlling (21%), Closing (9%), Professional and Social Responsibility (9%).

Once you’ve decided to take the test, you can apply either online or via a paper-based application. It makes sense to become a member of the PMI first, as this will save you money on test fees – in addition to according you the benefits and discounts of PMI membership. Once your application has been assessed and is determined to be complete, you will be contacted regarding how to schedule your exam, which is straightforward and easy to schedule or reschedule online. The exams are administered by Prometric, which offers exam centers nationwide. The test must be taken within a 12-month time frame of eligibility.

In terms of studying for the test, there are numerous options, including organizations that offer both self-paced instruction as well as intensive 5-day courses. Only the test-taker can determine which option is best. One key thing to remember is that you only need to pass a threshold of 61%, and this is the threshold to which most people study. Studying with a PMI registered education provider will provide you with the guarantee the study material is well aligned to the PMP exam requirements. You can save time and effort by studying the right topics and avoid wasting efforts on the wrong details.

PMCAMPUS offers a free set of practice questions to help you prepare. Get free samples of the PMP Platinum Exam Prep Bundle. Do you have a study method that works for you? Leave a comment, we’d love to hear how you’re preparing to take the PMP..!